Vending machine apparatus



July 14, 1964 DASHER 3,140,798

VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS Filed June 1. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l &

All

INVENTOR.

CAMPBELL K. DASHER BYU ATTO EY y 14, 1964 c. K. DASHER VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1. 1961 FIG. 5

FIG. 3

FIG. 2

v INVENTDR.

CAMPBELL K. DASHER ATTOR EY United States Patent 3,140,798 VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS Campbell K. Dasher, Box 1248, Station A, Marietta, Ga.,

assignor of fifty percent to Philip J. Malonson, Marietta, Ga.

Filed June 1, 1961, Ser. No. 114,138 9 Claims. (Cl. 221--89) This invention relates to a vending machine apparatus, and particularly to the sort of vending machine apparatus for vending soft goods such as bags of merchandise and the like, and especially to the portion of the vending machine which retains and releases the soft goods to be dispensed in sequence from the vending machine.

Vending machines are used now to dispense a multiplicity of different items, including a large selection of so-called soft goods. Typical soft goods are the bags of potato chips, snack foods, socks, handkerchiefs, and the like, which are packaged in soft, lightweight plastic or cellophane containers. A considerable number of hard goods have become soft goods for vending mach ne purposes because it is now being packaged in attractive bags made from sheet material. This type of vending is replete with special problems not present in the vending of hard goods, such as candy bars and the like, since the weight of the present mechandise is usually insufficient to accomplish a good gravity drop and the bulk and configuration of the package causes jamming in the machine as well as jamming between the successive layers of packages. Needless to say, it is extremely aggravating to a customer not to receive the merchandise after depositing his money, which is what happens in some vending machines when one bag catches on another.

The present invention is directed toward that portion of the vending machine which retains so-called soft goods in place in successive stacks or layers or other arrangement and selectively releases them in response to a control member operated on the machine by the customer following the depositing of the money therein. It is to be understood that the coin receiving and examining mechanism of a machine does not per se form a part of this invention, since any mechanism which receives and inspects and approves a coin and releases the control mem her is satisfactory for use with the present device. The present device operates from any movable control member which is pushed or pulled or turned or otherwise moved to cause a stroke or movement in the present apparatus.

Generally described, without restriction on the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims, the present device comprises a panel which is adapted to fonm a part of a closed vending machine and which may be one of many identical panels arranged in the same machine. Each panel is adapted to retain in vertical clamped and overlapping relation a plurality of bags or the like containing merchandise to be dispensed one-at-atime in succession. The panel comprises a vertical panel plate constructed from sheet metal or the like, having a longitudinal and central vertical groove or channel formed in the middle thereof extending the full length, substantially, of the panel from bottom to top. A pair of inwardly turned plate members positioned adjacent the open channel provides a vertical track running substantially coextensive with the open channel or groove. The front of the panel is that part which contains the merchandise and has arranged thereon on opposite sides thereof in vertical alignment a plurality of spring-biased clamps comprising U-shaped clamp members with the inward portions thereof protruding into the open channel. The back of the panel has movably mounted thereon a vertically shiftable rack located adjacent one side of the open channel. A bag clamp tripping mechanism positioned for sliding movement in said track has a pivoted pawl member thereon with a tooth engaging successively with the teeth of said rack and said tripping mechanism having an inwardly protruding cam therein adapted to engage each of the bag clamps in succession to lift same to release the merchandise clamped thereunder. Each clamp rotates upwardly a slight amount in releasing its merchandise, thereby engaging the underside of the merchandise thereabove, lifting same out of the way.

A primary feature of this invention resides in an arrangement in a vending machine for so-called sof packaged goods and the like of a plurality of merchandise panels each adapted to retain merchandise for dispensing and each panel being readily removable from the machine for loading.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vending machine apparatus having a plurality of merchandise clamps thereon adapted to be engaged and released in succession.

A further object of this invention resides in the particular arrangement defined in the preceding paragraph and including an off-set portion on each of said bag or merchandise clamping devices which engages the merchandise thereabove to lift same out of the way each time the machine is operated.

Another object of this invention resides in the arrangement of a succession of merchandise clamps having the inner ends thereof protruding into a space through which there passes in succession an operating member which lifts each bag or merchandise clamp in succession, whereby a plurality of merchandise clamps may be arranged on a comparatively small panel member.

An additional object of this invention resides in the aforementioned construction and including a rack and pawl operating mechanism which is positive in operation and direction and which engages a merchandise clamp in succession to cause displacement of the clamp sufficiently to clear the clamped merchandise therein and including as an additional provision the lifting of the merchandise thereabove so as to clear the merchandise being dispensed.

A further object of this invention resides in the construction of the dispensing panel of the present vending apparatus whereby each merchandise retaining member remains firmly biased in place during the operation of the one merchandise retaining member being actuated so that there is less possibility of a mal-function resulting in the dispensing of more than one package of merchandise.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a typical vending machine cabinet having a portion thereof broken away to expose a typical panel of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a panel constructed in accordance with the present invention with an intermediate portion thereof broken away and showing the merchandise retaining means thereon.

FIG. 3 is a back elevation view of the panel shown in FIG. 2 also with portions thereof broken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation view of a portion of the panel shown in FIG. 2 with typical merchandise shown diagrammatically thereon.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view in enlarged detail of some of the clamping members shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the panel mounting.

As mentioned in the introductory material, the present invention is directed primarily to that portion of a vending machine which retains and releases the merchandise and is not concerned except incidentally with that part of the machine which receives the coin, inspects same and releases the operating mechanism. In addition, the present invention does not contemplate any specific type of operating mechanism, it being'required only that there be some shifting member which is operated for a limited distance to cause the transfer of power to the present device. Therefore, the operating mechanism is shown only diagrammatically or incidentally in the present invention, it being understood that any one of the many conventional mechanisms now known in the vending art can be incorporated with the present invention.

The vending machine It) in FIG. 1 comprises a closed cabinet member 12 having a dispenser opening door 14 thereon through which the merchandise is removed following the release thereof and having a typical normally locked merchandise loading door 16 mounted on hinges 17 through which typical soft bags 18 of any type of merchandise such as potato chips, stockings, jewelry and the like is contained for dispensing from the machine through door 14. A coin slot 20 receives the proper coin therein and releases typical mechanism for the actuation of the machine. Merchandise release and actuating handles 22 are positioned for limited movement on the front of the machine below transparent panel members 24 displaying the bags 18 of merchandise. in accordance with the typical operation of these machines, the customer deposits the correct amount of money in the slot 20 and pauses momentarily while the coin is inspected and then pulls the merchandise release member 22, moving same from the machine a slight amount. In FIG. 3, it is seen that each handle member 22 typically is normally retained for movement by a respective locking member 26, which is released by the coininspection and rejection mechanism to release an actuating member 28 connected to handle 22, thereby pulling and rocking a cam actuating plate 363 to cause actuation and Vertical movement of the notched portion 31 having a drive pin 32 located therein attached to a rack 64 to be described later on.

The readily removable merchandise panel of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 34- and as seen readily in FIG. 1, is adapted to be removably positioned transversely or edgewise to the front of the machine so that a plurality of such panels 34 may be positioned in substantial parallel relationship across the width of the machine for ready removal for loading. Panels 34 are slidably mounted and retained in cabinet 12 on channel brackets 35 screwed on the machine frame.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 and the other figures of the drawings for a more complete understanding of the operation of panel 34, it is seen that panel 34 is constructed from flat, sheet metal or the like having a front 36 on which the merchandise is is normally positioned and having a back 38-which contains the actuating mechanism' for the merchandise release. An open groove or channel portion 40 is formed on the present panel 34 by inturning an edge 42 providing a pair of such opposed edges 42 facing each other across the opening id.

A plurality of merchandise clamping devices 44 are positioned for limited movement on the panel 34 and are arranged in the present embodiment in two columns of suchclarnps 44 spaced one above the other on opposite sides of the opening 40. Each clamp 44 comprises a central U-shaped body portion 46 extending and being pivotally supported in a pivot bracket 48 attached on panel 34 and having the terminal end on that side extended upwardly and thence inwardly into the face of the panel 34 in an aperture or opening 56. The other end of member 44 is spring-biased normally closed between a pair of lugs 52 by a spring 54 wrapped around the clamp member 44 and having one end attached thereto and the other end inserted into the panel. The end of the clamping device 44 is supported in the in-turned edge 42 and has an L -shaped portion extending into said channel. Each of the clamping devices 44 is normally spring-biased against the plate 36, thereby retaining bags 18 firmly in place pressed into and between the lugs 52. In the operation of the machine, starting at the bottom and moving to the top vertically, each of the clamping devices 44 is adapted to be shifted and moved out pivoting or rotation against the springs 54 through the action of a shifting mechanism or clamp actuating mechanism designated generally at 60, described in more detail.

As seen in FIG. 3, on the back 38 of panel 34 adjacent one side of the groove 40, there is positioned for limited vertical movement the shifting mechanism 60 comprising an elongated rack member 62 having aplurality of spaced rack teeth 64 therein arranged in vertical succession on the panel 34. The rack member 64 is adapted to operate flat against the surface of the plate upon which it is positioned and is held in place by a plurality of screws-66 positioned in elongated slots 68 formed on the rack 62. Retained in the opening 40 by means of a pair of track or guide members 70 is a clamp actuating member 72 having a pawl 74 pivoted thereon adaped to be engaged by one of the teeth 64 of rack 62. For purposes of loading the machine, the mechanism 72 has a finger plate 76 thereon upon which the thumb may rest while the hand grasps the lever of the pawl member 74 to move the entire mechanism '72 rapidly up the groove 40. With this arrangement, the mechanism 72 may be grasped by the hand and the pawl 74 depressed out of position and held in this position so that the entire mechanism '72 may be run up the slot to the top of the panel 34 and then back down again to load the clamping devices 44, each with a bag member 18.

A summary of the operation of the machine is as follows:

After the individual panels 34 are removed from the machine and loaded with bags or other merchandise 18, the clamp actuating apparatus 72 is returned to the lowermost position on the machine and remains there for the first operation. Upon release of the latch 26 and the actuation of the handle 22 and the lever 28 by the customer, the cam plate 30 is moved a limited amount which causes the pin 32 to be moved by plate 30 in notch 31 to move the rack 62 vertically a limited amount. The move ment of the rack 62 vertically causes the tooth 64 thereon to engage the pawl 74, thereby moving the entire clamp actuating mechanism 72 upwardly in the slot 40 engag ing the inward end of a lower-most clamping device 44 by a protruding actuating cam plate 78 fixedly mounted on the apparatus 72 and adapted to move the curved portion thereof against the inward end of the clamp 46. As the particular clamp 46 is moved rotationally in its support (see FIG. 4), it engages the bag 18 immediately thereabove, thereby lifting same a limited amount which prevents any engagement between the bag being released and that bag 18 thereabove. This overcomes one of the problems involved in some vending machines whereby the merchandise jams itself and dispenses nothing one time and two or more another time. The rack member 62 then drops to its initial position, placing the pawl 74 adjacent another tooth 64 ready for another operation. The pawl 74 moves vertically upwardly in the slot in this manner in sequence from one side to the other, actuating the respective clamps 46 as it moves to the top.

A particular advantage resides in the loading arrangement of the present machine. As described previously, panels 34 are removably and slidably supported in brackets 35, each panel 34 having its own set of brackets 34. The entire panel 34 may be completely removed from the machine 1t), placed on the floor or table or other place and loaded prior to re-inserting into the machine 10. V This is very important considering that a Serviceman must service many such machines as quickly as possible, sometimes in very crowded spaces under somewhat hectic circumstances. Each cam plate 30 and actuating member may be easily manually moved out of place for the purpose of removing the panel 38.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention with suggested uses thereof and Q a prescribed mode of operation, this is by way of illustration and is not to be construed as any sort of 1imita tion on the invention since various alterations, changes, embodiments, deviations and eliminations may be made in the invention without departing from the scope thereof defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a merchandise dispensing apparatus adapted to dispense merchandise in succession in response to the actuation of the apparatus by manual operation, a normally closed merchandise dispensing cabinet having an openable closure thereon openable to expose the merchandise therein for loading, a plurality of individual and separate merchandise holders vertically disposed in said cabinet each having clamp means releasably clamping the upper portion of each of a successive arrangement of vertically spaced overlapped bags for dispensing therefrom singly in response to the operation of the apparatus, and each of said holders being removably mounted in said cabinet inside said normally closed closure for removal from said cabinet after said closure is open, whereby said holders are independently removable from said dispensing apparatus for loading same with merchandise.

2. In a merchandise dispensing apparatus adapted to dispense merchandise in succession in response to the actuation of the apparatus by manual operation, a normally closed merchandise dispensing cabinet having an openable closure thereon openable to expose the merchandise therein, a plurality of individual and separate merchandise holders vertically disposed in said cabinet each composing a separate panel having clamp means thereon for holding a successive vertically spaced arrangement of overlapped merchandise bags for dispensing therefrom singly in response to the operation of the apparatus, and panel supports in said cabinet, each of said panels being slidably mounted on said supports inside said cabinet for removal through said opening when said closure is open, whereby said panels are independently removable from said dispensing apparatus for loading same with merchandise.

3. In a merchandise dispensing apparatus for dispensing bags of merchandise in succession in response ot the actuation of the apparatus by manual operation, a normally closed merchandise dispensing cabinet having an openable closure thereon to form an opening to expose the merchandise therein, a plurality of individual and separate merchandise holders vertically disposed in said cabinet each comprising a separate panel having clamp means holding a successive individually clamped arrangement of merchandise vertically spaced and overlapped bags for dispensing therefrom singly in response to the operation of the apparatus, and each of said panels being mounted and spaced from said like panels and said bags being clamped on the side of said panels in said cabinet inside said normally closed closure for removal through said opening when said closure is opened to expose said panels, whereby said panels are independently removable from said dispensing apparatus for loading same with merchandise.

4. In a dispensing mechanism, a merchandise holder panel, a plurality of merchandise retaining members arranged one above the other on said holder panel, each retaining member releasably holding a bag of merchandise on the holder panel by the upper end thereof, means normally releasably biasing said retaining members in retaining engagement with said holder to retain said bags thereon, means mounting said retaining members for limited movement on said holder to disengage from and release said merchandise retained upon actuation of said retainers actuating means for said retainers mounted on said holder and comprising a retainer release member thereon actuated to contact and release a retaining member each time said mechanism is operated, each of said retaining members having a part being operated upon actuation to move out of position and physically to cont5 tact the bag of merchandise thereabove and to move same upwardly away from the merchandise bag being released.

5. In a dispensing mechanism, a merchandise holder panel, a plurality of merchandise clamps arranged one above the other on said holder panel, each clamp releasably clamping a bag of merchandise clamped on the holder panel at the top of each bag, means normally biasing said clamps in clamped engagement with said holder, said bags of merchandise each hanging from a respective clamp and said clamps being close enough together whereby said successive bags each overlaps the bag below and is overlapped by the bag above, retaining means mounting said clamp for limited movement on said holder to release merchandise, a clamp actuating means mounted on said dispensing mechanism and comprising a means for actuating said clamps to release position each time said mechanism is operated, each of said clamps having a portion thereof being adapted to contact the merchandise bag thereabove to lift same as said merchandise bag in that clamp is released.

6. In a dispensing mechanism, an elongated merchandise holder panel, a plurality of merchandise retainers arranged on opposite sides of said holder panel one above the other, each retainer releasably retaining a bag of merchandise on the holder, spring means normally biasing said retainer in engagement with said holder to retain bags of merchandise thereon, said bags each overlapping in succession a bag below and being overlapped by the bag above means mounting said retainer for limited pivotal movement on said holder, a retainer actuating means mounted on said holder and traveling along the length of said panel between said opposite sides of retainers and actuating said retainers in succession, each of said retainers being formed with a merchandise clamping portion offset from the normal axis of said retainer, the amount of said offset portion of said retainers being sufficient in normal relation so that when a retainer is actuated the offset portion of said retainer bears against and raises slightly the merchandise clamped in the retainer immediately thereabove, thereby pushing said merchandise above out-of-the-way of the merchandise being released.

7. In a dispensing mechanism, a panel, a plurality of merchandise clamps arranged on said panel, each holding an article of merchandise clamped on the panel, spring means normally biasing said clamp in clamped engagement with said panel, means mounting said clamps for limited movement on said panel, a clamp actuating mechanism slidably mounted in said panel and comprising a pivotally mounted actuating member thereon travelling therewith in said panel and having a clamp actuating portion, a rack member mounted for limited movement on said plate adjacent said panel and having a plurality of teeth formed thereon, said panel member being in operable engagement with said rack to engage successively the rack teeth thereon, whereby successive limited movements of said rack member brings said teeth into successive engagement to move said panel with said slide member, thereby operating said clamps.

8. In a dispensing mechanism, an elongated panel having an elongated slot formed therein substantially in the center thereof, a plurality of merchandise clamps arranged on opposite sides of said elongated slot, each clamp holding a bag of merchandise clamped against the plate, spring means normally biasing said clamp in clamp engagement with said panel, means retaining said clamp for limited pivotal movement on said panel, said clamp having one portion thereof protruding into said slot and the other portion thereof protruding into said panel, a clamp actuating mechanism slidably mounted at said slot and comprising a pivotally mounted actuating member thereon traveling therewith in said slot and having a clamp engaging member, a rack member mounted for limited movement on said panel adjacent said slot and having a plurality of teeth formed thereon, said pawl member being in operable engagement with said rack to engage successively the rack teeth thereon, whereby limited movement of said rack member brings said teeth into engagement to move said pawl with said slide member thereby to actuate said clamps to release the merchandise therein.

9. In a dispensing mechanism, a panel having an elongated slot formed therein substantially in the center thereof, -a plurality of merchandise-clamps arranged on oppo site sides of said elongated slot, each clamp holding a bag of merchandise clamped against the panel, spring means normallybiasin'g said clamp in clamp engagement with said plate, means mounting said clamp for limited pivotal movement on said plate, said clamps each having one end thereof protruding into said slot and the other end thereof protruding into said plate, a clamp actuating mechanism slidably mounted in said slot and comprising a pivotally mounted pawl member thereon travelling therewith in said slot and an inwardly protruding cam clamp actuating member protruding into said slot, a rack member mounted for limited movement on said panel adjacent said slot and having a plurality of teeth formed thereon, said pawl member being in operable engagement with said rack to engage successively the rack teeth thereon, whereby limited movement ofsaid-rack member brings said teeth into engagement to move said pawl with said slide member, each of said clamps being formed with a merchanise clamping portion oflfset from the support axis of the pivot of said clamp, the amount of said offset portion of said clamp being sufiicient in normal relation so that when a clamp is released by the actuation of said cam member, the offset portion of said clamp bears against and raises slightly the merchandise clamped in the clamp immediateely thereabove, thereby pushing said merchandise out-of-the-way of the merchandise being released, means for moving said rack a limited distance on said plate and to return said rack to initial position each time after each successive actuation of said pawl, whereby upon operation of said vending apparatus said rack is moved alimited amount to move said pawl one clamp distance, thereby bringing said cam member into engagement with said clamp member topivot same out of place, thereby releasing one merchandise item at'a time and returning said rack to initial position to actuate said pawl and move said slide in successive operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,517,066 Hope Nov. 25, 1924 1,926,662 Antoine et al. Sept. 12, 1933 2,208,298 Mahafrey July 16, 1940 2,267,144 Steiner Dec. 23, 1941 2,543,687 Carlson Feb. 27, 1951 2,884,110 Krasney Apr. 28, 1959 2,996,217 Gabrielsen et al Aug. 15, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION I Patent No, 3,140,798 July i4, 1964 7 Campbell K, Dasher 7 It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said'Letters Patent should read as corrected below. a

Column 5, line 30, for "composing" read comprising lines l9 and 50, strike out "merchandise"; same column 5, lines 66, 68 and 71, and column 6, lines 8., 13, 25, 26, 30 and 31, after "holder", each occurrence, insert panel column 5, line 70, for "retainers actuating means for said retainers mounted on" read retaining members, actuating means for said retaining members mounted on column 6,

line 18, strike out "being"; same column 6, lines 52 and 64, column 7, lines 12, 18 and 15, and column 8, line 9', for "plate", each occurrence, read panel column 6, line 58, for "panel" read actuating same column 6, lines 54 and 75, and column 8, lines 8', 9, 11 and 16, after "rack" insert member column 6, line, 57, for "panel" read clamp actuating mechanism same line 57, column 7, lines- 3 and 26, for "slide", each occurrence, read rack column 6, line 74, for "pawl" read actuating column 7, line 8, for "pawl" read clamp actuating mechanism same column 7, line 23, after "rack", first occurrence, insert member same column 7, line 25, and column 8, lines l0, l2 and 16, after "pawl" insert member column 8, line 17, for "slide" read s'lidable clamp actuating mechanism Signed and sealed this 20th day of April 1965.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W, SWIDER I EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A MERCHANDISE DISPENSING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO DISPENSE MERCHANDISE IN SUCCESSION IN RESPONSE TO THE ACTUATION OF THE APPARATUS BY MANUAL OPERATION, A NORMALLY CLOSED MERCHANDISE DISPENSING CABINET HAVING AN OPENABLE CLOSURE THEREON OPENABLE TO EXPOSE THE MERCHANDISE THEREIN FOR LOADING, A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL AND SEPARATE MERCHANDISE HOLDERS VERTICALLY DISPOSED IN SAID CABINET EACH HAVING CLAMP MEANS RELEASABLY CLAMPING THE UPPER PORTION OF EACH OF A SUCCESSIVE ARRANGEMENT OF VERTICALLY SPACED OVERLAPPED BAGS FOR DISPENSING THEREFROM SINGLY IN RESPONSE TO THE OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS, AND EACH OF SAID HOLDERS BEING REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CABINET INSIDE SAID NORMALLY CLOSED CLOSURE FOR REMOVAL FROM SAID CABINET AFTER SAID CLOSURE IS OPEN, WHEREBY SAID HOLDERS ARE INDEPENDENTLY REMOVABLE FROM SAID DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR LOADING SAME WITH MERCHANDISE. 